Ross Atkins has been busy the past 24 hours, as the Blue Jays have announced a five-year contract extension with OF Randal Grichuk. On a day that brought a lot of tears with the news of the Kevin Pillar trade, the Jays continue to build for the future and are happy to lock up Grichuk to be a big part of the next 5 seasons. Wipe the tears people, Pillar was an amazing person, but it was time to move on. Today was a giant leap forward for the franchise.

Grichuk’s deal is worth $7 million this year, a $5 million signing bonus and he will make roughly $12 million next year and then roughly $9 million, the three years after.

Now the Blue Jays have two players signed past this season as Grichuk joins Lourdes Gurriel Jr. With the news out of Atlanta today with Ronald Acuna Jr and his 100 million dollar extension, expect the Blue Jays to consider an extension like such, once Vladdy Jr starts taking regular at-bats.

The Blue Jays are changing the culture right before our very eyes. Newly rekindled buddies Stroman and Sanchez are now the elder-statesmen on the team. If your name is Justin Smoak, don’t buy green bananas.